We spotlight the story—and hard-earned wisdom—of Professor G, a California Community College counselor and professor who has spent two decades guiding students through the transfer maze.
A Goal That Cuts Through the Noise
Professor G’s philosophy is clear: “It really doesn’t matter where you graduate from—what matters is that you graduate.” His entire counseling practice—and the TecoGuide platform—are built around this core belief.
Early Life in Salinas Valley: Violence, Poverty, and Invisibility
Born and raised in California’s Salinas Valley to Mexican immigrant farm-worker parents, Professor G grew up surrounded by violence:
- A city plagued by street crime
- A household marked by alcoholism
- Daily fistfights that drained focus from school
Not surprisingly, his grades plummeted. High-school staff largely ignored him; no counselor ever discussed college options. He fell through the cracks—a familiar reality for many first-generation, low-income, and BIPOC students.
The Turning Point: Learning the System Is Built to Filter Students Out
Everything changed when a mentor broke down an uncomfortable truth: parts of the U.S. education system are designed to eliminate students who look like him. Armed with that insight, Professor G vowed to beat the system, earn a living wage, and end generational poverty for his family.
Step One: Community College as a Launchpad
He enrolled at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. Three pivotal years followed:
- Skill Rebuilding – Re-learning material missed in high school
- System Mastery – Figuring out transfer requirements and hidden pitfalls
Resilience – Rejecting repeated efforts to push him out: “Hell no, you ain’t going to eliminate me.”
Step Two: University Transfer and Academic Empowerment
After Cuesta, Professor G transferred to Sonoma State University and completed a B.A. in Chicano Latino Studies. There he gained historical context on systemic racism—fuel for further advocacy. He then earned a M.S. in Counseling at San José State University.
Working 30–40 Hours a Week While Studying Full Time
Throughout his academic climb, poverty meant holding down multiple jobs. Balancing rent, bills, and coursework demanded meticulous time management—yet it proved that first-gen students can succeed with the right roadmap and grit.
Two Decades on the Front Lines of Student Success
For 20 years, Professor G has served as a community-college counselor and professor. His verdict: the system is still structured to weed out students, especially Black and Brown learners. But knowledge is power—so he built a tool to share it.
Professor G’s journey from street fights to academic leadership shows what’s possible when determination meets the right information. TecoGuide exists to make sure you don’t have to fight the system alone.
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